Signaling mechanism for vending machines



May 11,1926. 1,584,406

B. T. STREET SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed March '7 192 Q 2 Sheeg-Sheet 1 May 11 1926.

B. T. STREET SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 31mm fox Filed March 7 III/ll Patented May 11, 1926.

STATES BEAUMONT '1. STREET, OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI.

SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR VENDING.- MACHINES.

Application filed March 7, 1924. Serial No. 697,637.

This invention relates to vending machines, and more particularly to signaling mechanism to indicate when the machine is em 3t).

In the present invention, I provide a casing having a slot or opening in the front and a card arranged within the casing behind this opening and provided with indieating means normally visible through the opening, to indicate the contents of the machine, and means operated when the machine is emptied to move the card and dispose a different portion of it behind the opening, which second portion or? the card may be provided with suitable means to indicate the fact that the machine is empty.

An object of the invention is the provision of spring operated means for moving the card.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for closing the coin slot controlled by the movement of the card.

in the accompanying drawings, 1 have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the ma chine,

Figure 2 view,

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line 83 of Figure 2,

Figure l is av detail view of a portion of the casing showing the signaling means in raised position,

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 4;,

Figure 6 is a plurality of t 'ansverse vertica sectional views of a delivery roller,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the signaling means and operating mechanism therefor,

Figure 8 is a detail view of a portion of the coin controlled operating mechanism, and, 1 Figure 9 is a perspective view of the parts of the coin controlled mechanism disassembled.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the front of the easing and 2 the rear. The casing is provided with suitable side walls 3 and is further provided with a removable top i. A partition 5 is arranged in the casing dividing the top from the bottom and this partition is inclined forwardly. The space above the is a central vertical sectional partition is provided with suitable packing.

6 of heat insulating material. A container 7 is arranged in the top of the casing, adapted to receive ice or other refrigerant. The container is provided with an outlet pipe 8 for melted ice and this pipe is connected to a tank 9 arranged beneath the partition. The general construction of the vending mechanism herein shown forms the subject matter of a separate application Serial No. 697 ,636, filed March 1 1924, and is for the purpose of vending bottles containing beverages, The bottles are adapted to be arranged in tiers formed of side walls 10 and front and rear walls 11. These tiers are provided with downwardly inclined baflle plates 12 which are alternately secured. to the opposite side walls and are adapted to receive the bottles in a horizontal position. As shown, the tiers are divided into a plurality of sections, by means of transverse walls 13. A roller 14 is arranged beneath each tier and this roller is adapted to be rotated to deliver a single bottle from the tier at a time. As shown, the roller consists of end disks 15, which are rotatably mounted in the walls of the casing and intermediate disks 16 arranged beneath the partitions 13. Between the disks, there are provided curved plates or surfaces 17 substantially semi-circular in cross section, forming sections for the re ception of a bottle. As shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, the wall or plate of each section is arranged staggered with respect to the wall or plate of the other sections, whereby one section of the casing will receive a bottle from the corresponding com partment of the tier and deliver it. A grav ity closed gate 19 is arranged at the front of the casing and the gate is adapted to be opened by the weight of the bottle. In front of the gate, there is provided a curved plate 20 adapted to deliver the bottle in a vertical position, through an opening 21 in the front of the casing. A semicircular container or receptacle 22 is arranged in front of this opening. The bottom of the casing is providedwith a receptacle 23 for empty bottles and chutes 24 extend from the front of the casing to the receptacle. The front of the casing is provided with an opening 25, whereby empty bottles may be placed 011 the chutes 24.

The rollers 1d are adapt-ed to be controlled by suitable coin controlled mechanism. As

shown, a plate 26 is arranged on the front disk 15 of each roller and this plate is provided with suitable ratchet teeth 27, adapted to be engaged by a pawl to prevent rearward movement of the roller. The plate is further provided with a squared opening 29, adapted to receive the squared end 30 of a shaft 31. The other end of this shaft is provided with a plate or disk 32, and is further provided with a central bore 33. An operating shaft 34 is arranged in alinement with the shaft 31 and the operating shaft projects from the front of the casing. The projecting portion of the operating shaft is provided with a suitable handle 35. The inner end of the operating shaft is provided with a reduced portion 36, adap ed to be received in the bore 33. A plate 37is secured to the inner end of the operating shaft and one end of this plate is provided with a boss or enlargement 38. A slot 39, extend ing longitudinally of the shaft, is arranged in the boss 38. This slot is adapted to receive a coin passing through a slot or opening 40 in the casing. When the coin is received in the slot 39, a portion of it projects therefrom. The disk 32 is provided with radial ribs 41 adapted to be engaged by the projecting portion of the coin to couple the shafts to each other. Adjacent each rib, the disk is provided with a slot 42 and a magnet 43 is arranged in the casing in the rear of the disk. The plate 37 is provided with a lug 44 at the bottom, and the enlargement 38 is provided with a lug or projection 45. A guide is arrangedaround the disk 32 and the late 37. As shown, the guide consists of a flat plate 46, adapted to be secured within the casing and a substantially semi-circular plate 47 depending therefrom and extending around the disks. The plate 46 carries a stop 48, adapted to be engaged by the projections or lugs 44 and 45.

The indicating means forming the subject matter of the present invention are adapted to show when one of the tiers is empty and close the corresponding coin slot 40 to prevent the introduction of a coin. As shown, the front of the casing is provided with a plurality of slots or openings 49, arranged in front of and corresponding to the tiers. A card 50 is arranged behind each slot. The upper portion of the card is provided with suitable written matter 51, adapted to indicate the beverage contained in the corresponding tier, and the lower portion of the card is provided with suitable written matter 52 to indicate the fact that the tier is empty. Normally, card is behind the slot.

Figure 7 A spring 54 is arranged beneath the baflie plate. The shaft 53 is provided with a squared end 55, adapted to be received in a squared opening 56 of a link 57.

'58, it also moves the upper portion of the a The lower-baffle plate of each tier is mounted on a shaft 53 (see This link is connected to an arm 58 which carries the card 50. A lever 59 is pivoted in the casing adjacent each of the coin slots, the lever being mounted on a suitable pivot pin 60 and one end of this lever is provided with an opening adapted to receive the arm 52, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The coin controlled mechanism is adapted to couple the shaft 31 to the manually operated shaft 34, whereby the roller 14 will be turned a fraction of a revolution upon each operation of the shaft. The purchaser deposits a coin in the slot 40 corresponding to the tier containing the desired beverage, as shown by the cards 50 and the coin passes into the slot 39. The handle 35 is then turned a half revolution from its normal lowered position shown in Figure 9 of the drawings, until the lug 44 engages the stop 48. During the first part of this movement, the shaft 31 is not actuated, but when the projecting rib 41, the shaft is turned a third revolution to deliver a bottle from one of the compartments of the tier. As the tier is divided into three compartments, the parts are arranged to deliver a bottle upon each third revolution of the shaft 31. If a slug is deposited in the coin slot, the magnet 43 is adapted to withdraw it through one of the slots 42 and prevent operation of the machine. As soon as the handle 35 is released, it returns by gravity, to its initial position and the lug 45 engaging the stop 48, limits this return movement.

The lower bafile plate 12 of the front compartment of each tier is arranged on the shaft 53, as shown in ings. Normally, the weight of the bottles retains the baffie plate in lowered position against the tension of spring 54. The spring is of suflicient strength to raise the plate when the weight of the bottles is removed and as soon as this tier is emptied, the baflie plate moves upwardly, revolving the shaft 53 in a clockwise direction and causing the link 57 and arm 58 to assume the dotted line position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, lacing the printed matter 52 behind the opening 49 to indicate the fact that the tier is empty.

During the upward movement of the arm transversely, as shown in vdotted lines, swinging the lever 59 on its pivot to place the free end of the lever beneath the coin slot 40. This prevents the introduction of a coin into the slot if the purchaser should fail to notice the fact that the tier is empty.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that variouschanges in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts maybe re- Figure 7 of the draw- I portion of the coin engages the sorted to Without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a signaling device for vending machines, a hinged plate adapted to be retained in lowered position by the weight of the articles to be vended, a shaft on which said plate is mounted, a link connected to said shaft, an. arm connected to said link, a signal carried by said arm, and a spring arranged beneath said plate to raise said plate when the machine is empty.

2 In a signaling device for vending machines, a hinged plate adapted to be retained in lowered position by the weight of the artieles to be vended, a shaft on which said plate is mounted, a link connected to said shaft, an arm connected to said link, a signal carried by said arm, said signal being provided with printed matter adjacent the top and printed matter adjacent the bottom, the front of said machine being provided with an opening adjacent said signal, and spring arranged beneath said plate to raise said plate when the machine is empty.

3. In a vending machine having a coin slot, a hinged plate adapted to be retained in lowered position by the weight of the articles to be vended, a shaft on which said plate is mounted, a link connected to said shaft, an arm connected to said link, a signal carried by said arm, a spring arranged be-v neath said shaft to raise said plate when the machine is empty, and a member adapted to be moved. by the movement of said plate and said shaft to a position beneath said slot to prevent the insertion of a coin.

4. In a vending machine having a coin slot, a hinged plate adapted to be retained in lowered position by the weight of the articles to be vended, a shaft on which said plate is mounted, a link connected to said shaft, an arm connected to said link, a signal carried by said arm, a spring arranged beneath said plate to raise said plate when the machine is empty, and a lever pivotally mounted in said machine adjacent said link whereby said lever will be swung on its pivotto a position beneath said slot when said plate is raised.

In testimony whereof, I aliix my signature.

BEAUMONT T. STREET. 

